COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12211, 5 March 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

COMMERCIAL.

New ZtiiiMH ttaRAiD Office, ■"'•' '-''' , " '/ Wednesday evening. When ; the Federal tariff ; was first announced in Ootober, 1901, it seemed as if '. there was no ; possibility of making ; up the 'deficiency.' in our ;. export I trade, \ which'•/ Seemed S such f a certainty; in the near future. But the condition , of New South Wales, has : so altered that ; the proportion '■ hag-not changed in the way that was feared. ■ In 1001 we imported §°™ rt *k a * State goods, to ' the value 'of £1,222,026, while our exports were £1,024,065. Instead of, the balance for 1602 being worse!? the figures are now given as £680.000 for our 5 imports i and £1,195,000 ! for ; our exnorts 1 to" JNew South Wales, which may be accounted for solely by i the fearful drought that has been and is still, . being endured there. ''■<' Besides ' giving";, us j' the i most ; ;remarkable i and unexpected demand - during the past year for all classes of products of New Zealand at very high rates, another result is now slowly coming about in the influx of people from the drought-stricken districts, nolT'necessarily actual farmers *; themselves, * but principally workmen who- have hitherto ' had work i there' which ' it is ! now; impossible to get, arid { who - are coming over i* ere if to? be >v absorbed jn i occuriatiotts. Besides these there arc a certain numbed of. farmers who ' have »either lost• their all : and j have !come" 1 over «o make a fresh start, or - have.; collected s the j shattered remnants j of ;, their. fortunes while .;'■ such i remained, and' have come .to. New • Zealand ; rather than face the \ ruin which ?seemed in store fOv them if thoy remained. This influx is likely to 'have; ft' further effect < upon the ease with which land and house property has been taken up during the last; few years;,,; ,'-',■■ . . , Building is going on in the city and suburbs at a rapid t ate;» ; and ' owners df property have s°. -difficulty '. in ' selling ■ or ' letting. It • is doubtful if the buildbg, trade! has ever been a* busy as i it' is at C present, and ?difficulty >■ is often experienced in getting sufficient bricks for the contracts in hand, while other-.con-tacts are ready, m soon as builders will take. thorn, The timber market is very firm, and • ail is is ii ■■mm& Mm

an advance is expected in some lines whil* • • wages;? in this department are cont'inuahV "' '< on the increase.;; The > large? course of construction, and already planned * in addition to the large amount of residentS " ' ' building that is going on, affords dkmF«* "' ' I the ' confidence that the; citizens of AueUind'''• have :in » the further prosperity of this cifa? The eagerness to secure residential' and buii ' J ness premises appears in a similar manner} ' ' the country districts, where lands that ■»> ' so sparingly opened for settlement at* retail.' ~ taken by applicants in numbers far exceiditoff »' k ,h -*"' the sections available, in rathei strikinit con trast.tothe apathy that seems to previiT sIX ■' "' the' South Island on similar occasions ■mi ' * lack of animation shown last week at toil! Dunedin and Timaru, ■ when pastoral • run. '-*• ' were » offered, an experience that is hot ii«! common in the South,; is surely an evidehhi ■'' that the Government might with ; advantatl give then first attention to improving '"I facilities for settlement in this provinceT* '" ' where it has always boon found that the** are plenty of people ready to take up 1 Unj"J®P and thus further promote the prosperity of., ' ' the colony. < ,-,•,',™... ." ; ' The applications in Marlborough' last week •'" were '. rath different from the experience : - in Tauranga, where total of 541 application! : " ' were : received for 13 sections,! comprisih*'« . area of 3187 acres. |. A block of 11,027 if|W in the Waikato was also taken up this week '-" ' in the same eager manner. It is satiafae; . tory to know that a much larger area'isbein* thrown open as we write, some 235,933 ier«gM ' • in Various parts of the provincial district of • * Auckland ; being to-day open for selection ' '".' «?his is quite reasonable, because there is « ' tremendous difference between the land con» '■' ditions here and in the South, in that hera" '■ the land is in the main the r property of th»- . Government, I ,ana; at present lying idle, tfeui '• costing nothing to the country. in bringjniftf it into a. useful condition by placing tenter* ' : r' on it, whereas in the South" the land has generally to be ; purchased at a bigf.pßffiSl from people who are alreadyfusing. it to ad-'' vantage. We may mention a word of 'warn, > ing which . applies with - equnl 1 truth ■ to-all districts,.. and that is that the greatest , car* i-~ should be taken to avoid the risk of land ' being; selected by speculators who ■ have hot ftW« the slightest intention.of improving th» laud, Under the conditions of selection a certain'■ value of, improvements must be put on after so many years, and the danger lies in the " number who take up land with no intention ' of doing -anything beyond selling it again' when the value improves. This has a twofold baneful effect in locking up good land 1 which might otherwise be brought to a con: ' dition of productiveness, and secondly in' possibly throwing a, large ; quantity of. Land 1 : on'- the market at i some future time, ■ thiia reducing the market value of the land, which ■ genuine, settlers have taken up, and robbinif them of their well-earned profit. These lim. provement conditions. want careful watehinifi as it is in that direction that lies the possibility of preventing bogus , settlers'* from monopolising the land. In connection with our export to.South *' Africa, a trade which all parts of New Zea» land are anxious to cultivate, it should again be pointed out that this port is; labouring -'" under a; great disadvantage in; not f . having the steamers calling here. It is all very well to claim that the steamers will call when "'• Auckland has enough to offer, but experience has proved that trade generally followi the steamer, and the-oorts that the steamers call ' at get the bulk of the business. -Only, lately". Auckland merchants had.the option ship. 1 ' ping produce, but declined the j risk of extra handling via the South. .. Potatoes". are very, ' perishable, and although some may go, the quantity is nothing ; like what could have ' been shipped if this- month's steamer had called here. Later oh the ■ South will Wff their crop in, and our opportunity.' will be lost, but at present Auckland ;is the ' ' only port that can ship to advantage. Canned meats are being shipped to South Africa in ■ enormous; quantities, and we could get at '. least a proportion. of that trade, as-New- • Zealand meat is preferred. : The same hold* : > -'«" good in bacon, which is produced in large. ; ' quantities here. Auckland has more pi 1?! '~ than any provincial district. It is 10 be hoped that the time-table will be so altered as to include the possibility of shipping fjcm here, the most important port in New Zealand. Plenty of firms here could individually make up a larger shipment than was lately sent by the whole of one port in the South. < In the South they seem to think that Auck--land can .produce nothing, but in one line that We have mentioned, potatoes, it must be remembered-that this district is so early that for some months it has the' whole trade of the colony. Export to the Southern mar* kets generally ceases about the end of Jam*? ary, as the first of 'the early-grown begin to ' be ready in the South but during the whola of November, December, January, and Feb* ' ruary, Auckland can supply an outside mar* ket much better than any other place in th« ' colony. , It is not likely that Auckland merchants will incur the risk of the extra handling involved in shipment via another port I when perhaps by the time the next steamer ; goes the Southern crop will be ready for shipping direct from the port of production. '. * Even 1 if the goods are snipped from ."here, . they, are again handicapped by the coastal , freight. Onions are very plentiful, and the second shipment to Honolulu will go by this mail.' ' v?Another ;: large shipment ■-.; of; flax . : ; will go tSM, by this mail to America. Last mail steamer took a shipment of 1600 bales, a record for this line of steamers. It is very satisfactory to know that during 1902 Auokland exported flax to the value of £101,850, as against; , £33,245 in 1901, this enormous increase being mainly caused by the immense spurt that has been given to the industry by the continued high prices obtainable. The export from the whole colony increased so much ,'■ last ; year that a'roeoid was established, the value being nearly half a million, -against £195,728 during 1901. Tha only year that , has ever approached last year wa#lß9o, when " " flax to the value of £381,789 was exported, and since then the total value has varied considerably, . the lowest being the irisignifij; ■: '■ cant total of £21,010 in 1895. , There is still uncertainty about the pros' pects of the harvest on account of the weather, '' that is likely to prevail in the extreme South ' during . harvest. ; The Railway Department' are reported ;to. be expecting ; the largest ■ " harvest on record, but this is not borne -6ftWm by the Government estimates, although there:-- :• is a substantial increase on last season.. _ The i Department lof Agriculture have noW issued their estimate of the principal grain' ' crops for this? season, from which it would • /»'■' i'ppear that wheat is not : going to turn out such a heavy yield as was once expected. The estimate places the yield at 28 bushels per acre, whereas in 1899 the average for the ''. colony was' 32.76 per acre. This year the ' total yield ;is , put at 5,441,940 ' bushels, hardly !£' million more than last year, and much smaller than the previous three years. It is probable that this is rather under-esti-. mated, but ; against it must be noted the act _ J that there is a smaller stock, by two million bushels to begin the year with, so that there -is really a less available supply than last season.' - . ' ' Oats are estimated . this year at 35 bushels per acre, against 37.06 last year, but the greater; acreage*' under crop : is: expected -to ' produce 16,928,065. bushels, ■ against 15,045.233 last year. There is estimated to be a million bushels less to begin the season with, as compared. to last year. • , .;'"•' -h Barley ; ; is'-. estimated "; to produce . 1,033,077 bushels, at 37 bushels to the acre,. against 855,993 bushels last year, at 32.28 to the acre. • . . ■ We shall not be surprised if most of these . figures for this yea,- are found to be under-'' ' estimated.- It may be mentioned that in all these -i grains the ; season starts with' exceptionally small stocks, so that all prices kept *:' ;S firm up to the end of last season. , . * An unexpected demand set in for maize for Sydney during February, and a few, small shipments were made. It was difficult ■ • to; secure any quantity as the whole crop is practically, exhausted, much earlier than has over been done before. ' - • - ''■' ' -Flour.shows a downward tendency in the South, ; and two reductions -have now been an-* j: nounced,from the high prices that ruled at the latter end of , the season. >. -,The last wool sale of the season has now. been held, and as expected, values ruled generally lower, in accordance with the lower prices at Home. ■■-'■■ Grass and clover seeds are selling well for surface-sowing on bush clearings. . The cocksfoot harvest is even later than was expected, and the new ha?;, not yet come to hand. ! Sup'iliev of old are very light,; and the- cost so . ; V y high that merchants are not making any- * ; thing ion ■ present sales, which ' are being made on - the : basis of the expected lower . price of the future. ''■'"-'. ",The poor crop of strawberries in this dif i , trict has told against the preserving of this, - . fruit here, but a fair supply has been obtained ; from'the South. All kinds of jam have been in good demand. ' . ~■-■' The fact that Lent has now come in ha» caused a strong demand for all preserved fish. The scarcity ;of Albert * sardines •, is causing ; inconvenience to those \ who have always depended on this brand. All good brands art practically out of the market now, : and the trade are waiting advices from Home. •J Rice has sold freely from the wharf at aslight i reduction on late; rates. = The »* rJc ' in Japan remains firm, according to a private cable received this week. >• - , ' -J f Some inconvenience is being caused by tne no»>arrival of cardboard? tray vestas, wmen cannot be obtained in Wellington at present..- , , ■-. ■■■ Nutmegs ! show a very decided -advance in Singapore, and the local price hag bw«««>& All spices are in good demand for the pick ling season. ~ ■ thi; *;v Kerosene' and turpentine are fif%* s "5/ ' advance lately I recorded, and »•«!;»«*?«. *°i - . vance is not unlikely. There is little chaogC .. , a shade higher, •'■.:■■■'...■.■•','.'

Canary seed shows a further, advance, and - :: 'local stocks are well' held. '■'.-'] .... m ■ Import trade generally has been very brisk. = ?; The figures for 1902 are no \. available, - and we (find that the imports into % Auckland ■amounted in value to £3,113,549, -an increase - of £90,000 over last year. A good deal of this is probably _. accounted for by the imS ports in connection with the electric tram-. v ways, ' but the high standard now reached shows the prosperity that the city is enV joying. A danger: seems to be in the labour -: demands, ] which may become :.*' too strong. Already we have seen the boot trade upset by increased demands. Lately an award, '-: intended ;to be in the i interests ot ? grocers' .assistants, resulted in many instances in the ■ opposite way by several being discharged. Now there is trouble in the furniture manufacturing trade, and dismissals -are taking place on a large scale. "-"' KAURI GUM MARKET. H Arrivals of gum continue large— might be expected at this time of the year— not by any means excessive. Heavy rains still , to some extent interfere with the full working of the swamps, or.the quantity coming in might have been larger. : There is no material alteration to report in the demand. Thin keeps quiet, but steady for good kinds, and is still very strong for nearly all lower grades. It is difficult to report satisfactorily upon prices, as qualities vary so much in summer time, and in many cases parcels are of a quality much inferior to what description would lead one to expect. Arrivals since iast mail have been 5*5 tons, and the stock now in the hands of sellers and shippers is . about 1200 tons. We quote as follows, but all quotations are more or less nominal: — White gum: Poor, ordinary, 42s and up- - wards; fair ordinary, 62s and upwards; bold , • 2-scraped, free from nuts, 85s and upwards; ; East Coast, good quality, 90s and upwards; rescraped, 130s and upwards. Black gum Nuts, 20s and upwards; medium, free from sugar, 26s and upwards; good, 60s and upwards. Shipments have been as follows:—For London, direct, per s.s. Mamari, 17 tons; per s.s. Mimiro, 9 tons; per s.s. Pav paroa, 157 tons; per ship Melville Island. 41 tons; per barque Lutterworth, 52 tons. For London, via Sydney, per s.s. Westralia. 28 : tens; per s.s. Mararoa, 2 tons; per s.s. Zenkndia, 16 tons. For New York, direct, per barque Niagara, 481 tons: total, 803 tons.

STOCK AND SHAREMARKET. ON the Stock Exchange the demand for good investment stocks has been well maintained, and if business has been limited it is not for want of investors. Prices in one or two instances show a marked advance, an advance all the more surprising as present market price shows a very poor return on the investment.

Banks: From some as yet unexplained reason New Zealands have been in strong demand, and prices advanced very rapidly from £3 12s 6d to £4- 7s. The market closes easier, •with sellers at £3 19s. Nationals have also been in demand, and sold up to £4- 12s, but the market closes a shade easier. Insurances: A fair business has been clone in this class of stock. New Zealands sold freely from £4 7s to £4- 10s to £4 6s to £4- 7s, closing with sellers at £4 7s and buyers at £4 6s. South British are firm, with sales at £5 5s and £5 7s, closing with buyers at £5 7s. Nationals sold at £1 Is 6d, £1 Is Bd, and £1 la 9d, and more could be placed at the latter price. Standards are wanted at 19s ex div. now payable. New Zealand Accidents show a further advance, with sales at £1 15s, £1 16s, and £1 18s. Closing prices, sellers £2 and buyers £1 17s 6d.. Gas:' Not much business in this class of stock. Aucklands sold at £14 10s, and there are sellers at £14- 12s 6d. Thames are wanted at £1 12s, cum dividend payable in a few days. Gisbornes are offered at £1 17s 6d. Shipping: A small business in these. Northern Steamship, paid-up, sold at 15s 9d and 15s 6d, and more are obtainable at 15s 9d. Contributing sold at 7s. Devonport Ferrys sold at £1 18s 6d and £1 18s 3d. Coals: This class of stock have had good inquiry. Hikurangis sold at. 10s 6d, 10s 9d, and lis, and close with buyers at lis. Taupiris sold at 19s, 19s 3d, 19s 6d,'.and 20s, closing with sellers at 20s 6d, and buyers at 19s 6d. Westporjts are easier, and are offered at £6. ■...'. ■'. v i . \ Timber: A good business in this class of stock. Kauri Timbers have been in demand. No sales of paid-up reported, sellers ask lis; contributing sold at Is. 9d and Is lOd, and close with buyers at Is 9d, and sellers at 2s. Leyland-O'Briens sold freely at £2. Mitchelson's sold at 17s, 3d. Mountain 'Rimus have sold at £1 3s 9d. Miscellaneous: New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage have been sought after. Old issue sold at £1 6s and £1 6s 3d; new issue sold up to £1 7s 6d. D.S.C.'s sold at lis 9d and lis Bd. Kiverhead Papers sold at £1 10s. " /'....'".

Mining: The market for mining stocks is still dull and depressed. Waihis have shown a little. improvement, and sold from £5 8s to £5 12s 6d. Waihi Grand Junctions sold at £1, Waihi Extended at Is 4d and Is 3d. Talismans sold at 15s 6d and 15s 3d, but close with sellers at 15s. Crowns sold at 12s and lis 6d; Tairua Broken Hills, 7s 6d and 7s 9d; Chelmsfords at 2d. Bunker's Hills sold from 4s 5d to 4s lOd to 4s 6d. Hauraki freeholds sold at lid and ll£d.

' AUCTION SALES, ETC. February 13.;.; Messrs. Samuel "Vaile. and Sons held their tnsual property sale at their auction mart, Queen-street, to-day. and disposed of the following : Allotment, corner Jervois Road and Clifton Road, 208 ft frontage to both roads, and JO-roomed house, £900; allotment, Victoria Road, Dovonport, 45ft by 120 ft, and eight-roomed house, £450; allotment,, corner Victoria Road and Abbotsford Terrace, Devonport, 50ft by 150 ft, and five-roomed house, £250. .

There was a good attendance at Mr. Thornes' land auction mart to-day, when the Grammar School leases were submitted, and the following found buyers:—Wynyardstreet. lot 1, £11 per annum; lot 2, £12; lot 3, £9; lot 4, £8; Grafton Road, lot 7, £12; Portland-street, lot 6, £5 10s; lot 7, £5 10s; Epsom, lot la, £5; lot 2a, £5; lot 10, £8; lot 11, £8 10s ; lot 12, £11; Eden Terrace, lot 25, £8; lot 51, £6 lot 43, £5. Mr. J. Jones sold by auction at his mart today, by order of the registrar of the Supreme Court, a property at Waikumete, consisting of three acres and some buildings, for £80. ;\ ■■ , • . : February 27.

There was keen competition for the Chapelstreet property offered for sale by auction by Messrs. s Samuel Vaile and Sons to-day. It was eventually knocked down for £755. The bidding for the other lots did not reach the reserves and they were passed in. .

::"''; , BANK BATES. ■ ' ' ' BUYING '•"■■' SELLING. Demand .. S X\ Demand .. 1} % ) 80days ... l%\ I>ls- SO days ..1 /• I p . re " • ■■*■'' 60 days .. I '/. f count 60 days .. 3% ramn f 90days .. M'/.l ~.. .90 days .. i% ) Telegraphic TRANSFERS TO London.— It per cent., plus cable charges. , DEPOSITS— Bank of New Zealand and National Bank: Fixed : for three 'months, 1' per cent, . per annum; - 6 months, 2 cent, per annum; 12 months, 3. per cent, per annum; 24 months, _3i per •;..- cent, per annum. -By Australian Banks: Fixed for 6 months, 1} per cent, per annum; 12 months, 3 per cent, per annum. v, PRICES CHARGED BY THE WHOLESALE : TO DISTRIBUTING HOUSES: :.:';; ALES AND POHTER, duty 23 per gallon.— (in bond): Bass' Dogahead brand (Bead s bottling, quarts, -9s; ■■■ pints, - 7s; - Foster's Bugle quarts, 7s 6d; pints, 5a 6d. Bulldog (B. Porter and Co.'s -bottling), quarts, 9s; pints, 7s. Franz L Joseph's lager, quarts, 9s ; pints, 7s. Local . • (duty paid), quarts. 8s: pints, 4s 6'<. Stout (in bond); Guinness' Dog's head brand - (Read .bottling), quarts, V 9s; pints, . 7s;._:< Foster's Bugle, quarts, 7s 6d ; pints, 5s -6d. Bulldog (B. Porter and Co.'s bottling), : . quarts, 9s; H. pints, Jar. Johnson's, quarta, <8a 6d; pints, 6s 6d. Ashby's, 6s 3d "to~Bs 9d. Anglo-Bavarian, • quarts, Bs9d: pints, 5s 6d. Local (duty, paid), quarts, 8a j pints, 4s 6d. .■ „i . : •'-,-- BUILDING MATERIALS.—Cement, K.B. and White's, 13s. Slates English Countesses are r worth £12 to £13. Plaster of Paris, 14a to -168.*. All these quotations nominal.■.;•;■ Firev bricks. 2Jin £8, 3in £9. less trade discount.■ BAGS AND BAGGlNG.—Calcutta fall weight - woolpacks. : l«d : lb, bale Is lid, less 2s; oornsaokß, 48in.v 6a; v 44in, 5s 6d; Hessian : - hags, 2s 3d to 4s 6d. BRIADSTUFTS AND GEAIN.-Best roller flour. in sacks, £12 2s 6d to £13 ss, less usual discounts; 100's, 60's, and'2s's. m proportion to f ■ extra baggings. Milling wheat, 5s to 5s 3d, ;, : f.0.b..; r Southern ports, , according to quality, sacks extra.: Fowl wheat, ex store, 7 '■-■-' 4s 7d to 4sißid. •> Brans £6 ex _ store. ': .;:y Sharps.' \ £7. "*• Maise ■ whairf; 4g ?2d j; oat-, meal. £12 7's, £14 ss. t Barley for malting, 4s 5d to 4s 6d; f feed. 3s,9dsto-4s. ; Oats, et wharf.'2B 5d ;to : 2s.7Jd. <Pearl bar- . ley, £15 10s; split peas, £15 10s. Cabin bread." : £18 per ton: ..-, Settlers' ,; bread, £20. Pota- * toes, £3 15s; onions. £5 10s. CJOAL.-Newcastle. ship's side, 24s 6d; delivered, ■ £1 12s; Hikurangi CoarCo.. &J d *f-°-Whangarei; : iTaupiri v . Steam, at mine, 9s 6d; do., honsehold, delivered, £1 78. , .... „ CORDAGB - Manila -. .hemp rope, 1( £? . sizes, Auckland-made, • best, *74 ius, , New v::, Zealand flax ™? <h M ,/«,?.' i . £49; twine, shop. d.p. per lb. to Is 2d, sewing, twine, lid to la 6d; per in. ; ' - ; 001-MB.AND SPICES, per lb.-Ceylon. eojft* ; plantation. No. 0, 18 7d; No. .1. Is 6d: No, 2, Is 5d;:N0.:3, Is 4d; Mocha, Is Jd: ditto. | Island, 18 2d(f chicory. 1 36s JJerlcwtjUtiM;: t Symington's Essence of Coffee.,l2s. 6d; local, , 9s 6d to 10s. Cocoa: Fry's, Is > 3d; Van Hon* . ten'*, 38 2*d; Eppe's, Is 4id; Cadbury s, Jib. j ~■'• , •- ' '■-;,,- '.--■ • - , ' ',i -,', • i '■ j • i '-~-.

6d, Jib 18s 6d, lib 36s 6d: < Rowntree'a, 3s 3d. > Chocolate: Fry's, Is 3d; Vi-Cocoa, 3oa ; 7s '; 6d;, ',4J055,'.". Us; 9Joz, 22s per ;- dozen. •'■■ pices: •> Cloves,, lOd; :■■ bleached ;■ ginger, .'lid; nutmegs, Is 6d to Is 9d; cinnamon, 23 3d; black-pepper,-. whole, lid; white do., Is i 3d; do., ground. Is 4d; chilies, Is. .;;' CONFECTIONEBT.—LocaI boiled, 2Jd; dry - goods, V 3Jd, $> leas trade .. discount; gam ; jujubes, Is; jelly ditto, 7id; Reiner's assorted confections, 74d; Gray's, 8d: candied peel, local, lemon, 4Jd to sd; orange, . 5Jd; • : citron. Is; Terry's jujubes, Is Id; Denholm's, Is 2d; Keiller's fruit jujubes, Is 4d; lib chocolate creams. 4s 6d; cream sticks. Is, 3d; chocolate sticks. Is 4d.

GUM, FLAX. White Gum: Poor- ordinary, £42 .and upwards; fair . ordinary. £62 and -upwards. Bold, three-quarter-scraped, free from nuts, £85 : and upwards; East -■ Coast, best quality, • £90 and upwards; re-scraped, £130 and upwards. Dark gum: Nuts,, sifted, £20 and upwards; medium, free from sugar, £26 and upwards; good. £60 and upwards. Flax: Fine, clean. Auckland, f.o.b.v £28 good, fair average -duality, f.0.b., £26; tow, £4 10s -ton. Cocoanut 'fibre, per ton, £20. : Copra, per ton, £15. Fungus, 3Jd. «.-.:■-■;-

JAMS. DEIED FBUITS, ■:■ Etc.—Moir'3 Marmalade, lib, d.p., 6s 6d; Keiller's marmalade, lib, d.p., 7s 3d; Phoenix and St. George, Danedin. 5s ed; s Nelson (New Zealand). 5s 9d; Auckland made, : lib tins, 4s 8d to :;ss; ' lib - glass'• 6s -..-•■ 6d; "■ Jam, • English, 6s 6(1; local, 3s 3d, to 4s 9d; Smyrna sultanas, s£d;, American, ■ 6id; American muscatels, in trays, 9d; loose, sd; Malaga ditto, Is 3d; elemes, 51d; currants, 31d; Californian prunes, 6d; dried apples, American, 7d, local 6d; dried apricots, 7£d; seeded raisins, lib packets, 6Jd. l,v a thee. HIDES, ETC.— leather, 103 d to Is 6d per lb; kips, Is 5d to Is 6d; runners. Is 6d to Is lOd lb; black harness, Is 2d to is sd; brown harness, Is sd: calf, colonial, 2s 6d; basils. 18s to 26s doz.; skirt, 18s to 22s per side: hides, ox. 4£d to sid Tier lb; stout ox, s£d to 6Jrl; extra stout, to 7Jd: cow. 41d to 4Jd; calfskins, 4d to 5d per lb sheepskins, pelts, shearlings, lOd to Is 2d; quarterwoolled, to 2s. Tallow Best 1 mixed, 26s to 275; in bioken packages, 25s to 265. MANURES.—Australian bonedust, £4 to £4 ss; Auckland, £7; superphosphate, £4 15s; bone flour, £7 15s; superphosphates. Anglo Company. £4 15s; cocoanut oil cake, £6; kainit, £4 2s 6d; • Now Zealand Drug Company's manures: A superphosphate, £5 12s 6d per ton; bonedust. steamed, £6 17s 6d: bonedust. green, £7 7s 6d; bonedust and blood, £6 10s: ' root manure. £7; grass manure, £6 17s 6d; notato ■ manure, £7; turnip manure, £6 17s 6d; corn manure. £6 17s 6d: maize manure, _ ; £7; orchard manure. £7 10s: onion manure, £7 10s; clover manure. £6 156; sulph. of. ammonia, £17; Coral Queen guano, £4 15s.

iBONMOTTGTiRY.— corrugated iron, basis, £18 10s: English bar iron, per. ton. £10 basis: galvanised fencing wire. 6 to 8 gauge, £10 5s to £11 ss; English barb wire, £15; American. £14: English - nig iron, . £5; pig lead, £15; sheet lead. £18: zinc. £32; I.C. coke - tin plates, 20in by J4in, 16s 6d: blasting powder. 8d; muntz metal, bars, Is, plates, 9d; quicksilver, 3s. .-.;,. .

MALT AND HOPS.—Colonial, 4s 9d to ss. Hops: Nelson, brewers', B£d to lOd; grocers' hops, ":; packets, 9d. ■ '

OILMEN'S STORES, Price's National, 6|d; Battersea Wax, 6*d; Price's London Wax, 65d; Price's self-fitting:, 71dj Price's carriage, 7Jd; local sperm, 4|d to 5d ; wax, s£d to s?d; mining. 7£d; local blue mottled soap, £22 to £24 per ton: carbolic, £28; best yellow, £27; Peerless, £22 to £26; National, £24; double Crown. £20; Golden Crown, £18; household, £12 to £14; soft soap, •in tins, 5d per lb; toilet, 7d ■ per lb; —all sub.ieot to trade discount. Salt: Black Horse, fine, £3 15s. coarse, £3 ss; other brands, fine £3. coarse £2 10s: rock salt,. £5: Jordan almonds, 2s 8d; Blacking Paste, 3s 6d; Colman's starch, No. 1 (duty, 2d per lb), white, 46s 6d; lib pictorial. 535; local, 37s ; 60 ■ ense lots. ■ 355. ' Mustard, d.p.: Column's, lib tins (DBF). 17s fid; halfditto. 9s: Jib tins, 6s; Keen's DSP, same price; Colman's, 71b tins (green). Hid: Blue: Reckitt's Circular. 7s 6d per gross : Bag. 8s 3d : Colman's Azure, 84d per lb ; Reckitt's Square, BJd ; Keen's square, BJd. Black lead: Nixey's, 6s to 7s 3d; Eeekitt's. 7s. . Matches: Vestas. E. Bell and Co.'s, . 250's, 14s 6d by the case; plaids, 3s 4Jd; other brands, (3s 2d to 3s 4d; cardboard vestas, 8s 6d. Oil: Castor, in pints, 7s; half-pints. 4s. Salad: 0. and 8., quarts, 275; nints, :14s 6d: half-nints. Bs.6d; Morton's, pints. 8s 6d;- half-pints, ss; local, pints. 7s 6d; half-pints, 4s. Pickles: Crosse and Blackwell's, pints, 17s ■ 6d; Gillard's 17s 6d ; Capt. White's. 14s 6d and 245; Morton's, 13s; local, 7s 6d; Flag Brand, Bs, 5 cases 7s 6d. Rice, No. 1. Polished Japan, £16 10s; ditto, ground, 2Jd. Sauces: Lea and Perrin's. halfpints. 139. 6d; pints. 255; Gillard's halfpints, 7a 6d; Mellor's. half-pints, 8s; pints, 14s : Holbrook's, , quarterpints, 7s : half - pints. . lis : pints, 225; Goodall's Yorkshire Relish, 7s. Vinegar, d.p.: bulk. Ohamw'on's. per gallon. "« arson's, Is lOd; Holbrook's, Is lOd; Burnett'*. Is lid: Potts'. Is lOd: local. Is to Is 3d. Vinegar: Case. C. and 8.. 9s: Champion's, 8s 9d: Burnett's, 7s 6d ;• Morton's. 8s 6d: Morton's Crystal. 9s 6rl; local, 4s to ss; Hill's and Underwood, bulk. Is lid: case, 7s. Tapioca. £12; sago, £11 10s. ■ Cornflour: Maize. 21d d.p.; Clement's. 23d; Brown and Poison's patent, 6*d; Indian. sid. Preserved milk: Nestle's. 6s 6d: Milkmaid, 6s 3d; local brands, 5s 3d. Tartaric acid, in jars. Is 6d; in kegs. Is 3d; cream cf tartar, in jars. Is 2d: in kegs, lid: bicarb, soda. 10s 6d; local soda crystals, £5 ss; whiting; £5. '..:',' ■ '• ~

OH.S AND PAINTS.—Dutv. 6rt a gallon. Colza, in drums, 4s 3d; bulk,. 4s;. linseed, boiled, drums, 4s 4d; bulk, 4s Id; raw, drums. 4s 2d- bulk. 3s 9d; castor, in drums, 3s 5d- half-cases. 3s 2d. Kerosene, 150 test, gal., lOd. Genuine white lead, ground, per owt, 561b and 281b. 30s' and . 335; red lead, dry, 28s; zinc, white, 38s to 44s Oil colours, assorted. £2 to £2 5s per owt American turps. 4s: resin. £6 15s to £9. according to grade. Varnish, oak. S3 to 15s: copal 12s 6d ti« 255. Benzine. Is 4d. Naphtha, 2s 3d. Gasoline. 3s 6d." Quotations regulated by quantities and qualities. •

ROVISIONS—: Factory, s|d to 61d; • dairy. sd. Good keg butter, 9£d: second quality, 7Jd ; milled, 9Jd : factory, lid ■ Eggs. "Is. ■- Bacon, sides only,' 83d to 9Jd; hams, only, 9d to lQd; Fish (duty. 10s per cwt); Liner. 6Jd; boneless cod, 6Jd ; . preserved red herrings, in tins, % lis 6d .per tin -■ (100 fish), 33s per dozen tins ' (each 24 fish): preserved salt herrings. in tins, h 42s per dozen tins (each 24 fish); 24s per dozen (each 12 fish) kippered herrings. 8s; herrings in sauce. 7s 6d to 9s; fresh herrings, 6s; Findon haddocks. 10s; lobsters, New Zealand. 10s 6d, American 13s; Digby chicks. 9s 6d; salmon, lib, •■Cocktail,'- 10s 6d. Alaska, 7s to 8s; British. Columbia. 8s 6d to 9s ,6d ; salt :.<salmon. s£d; sardines, ,-' quarters, 3s 6rl to 6s 6d: halves, 6e to 10s. according to brand; oysters, 8s; mullet, 5s 9d.' 50 cases, 5s 6d; whitebait, lis to 14s; boiled rabbit, 9s 6d: corned beef, 14s; sheep tongues, lib tins, 12s 6d to 14s, according to brand; 21b 235. •;;<;•! ~■'.<■ ■:: .^./v.:,,"' -•- /ft'-h :'■;'.'

' - ,".'.■■'■-■'■ lv" ."' ~1 '■■-■ ** ■ '' : .\\ "' SUGARS.—Duty, id per lb. Colonial Sugar Company's Auckland Banner" d.p., No. i, £20 ss; No. 2, £19 15s; No. 3, £18 ss; Cubes. £22 15s. 'Treacle-, bulk,. 12s 6d? Golden Syrup. bulk, 16s: molasses, in quantities not less than half ton, duty remitted by, Customs, £4 10s ; in drums, 5s cwt. ,-. .

SPIRITS (in bond).—Duty, 16s per gallon of proof spirits in bulk or case. Brandy: Kouver. Qouillot. and Co.. 255: Gilbey'aUniversal brandy, flasks 28s. 1-flaaks. 30s: Hennessy's, case, one star, 37a;' three star. 51s; Bisquit. Dubouche. and Co.'s. ra.e. in bhds. 7a, quarter-casks 7s 6d, octaves 8s: Bisauit. ■ Dubouche and Co.'s case. 255: Boomerang. Australian, bulk» 7s 6d, case 225; ChateauTanunda. case. 225. ;.'. Whisky, bulk: Wal- ■: ker's WW, 8s 6d: Usher's SR. 98 9d; Usher's 0.V.G., 78 D.C.L., old, 5s 6d; very, old, 8=! 6d; VOS. 10s 6d: case. Old Scotch. - 18s; verv „ old. -..■ 225: .'VOS. 26s:' .;■ Gaelic, • l V2s: ? ? (Buchanan's House f. of Commons, . 225; ■Robertson's three star, 28s: . Dunville s. 20s; v Danville's special liqueur. 32s : . Gilbey's Vicerov (Irish). 20s ; Jamieson's (Irish), one ■'star,'-'2ss :•" three star. 32s : Teacher's, 25s • Walker's - . W.W, . - 22s ; . Usner's SB, 225: Usher's OVG. 18s 6d; Usher's OVG, flasks. ?Bs, -flasks 355: White Horse, 225; Aberf 15s; " Gilbey's "" Strathmill, ;■ 22s ;•■ • Braemar. 18s; BOBS. 20s;]LL. 22s 6d to 235;: ''f Cambus, 16s; ' Gordon's, 15s; Dewar's, 21a; Haig and Haig, - 22s ;-• Geneva, proof. ■4 gallons, JDKZ, 20 bottles, 18s 6d; under proof. : 16s 6d; schnanns,' Wolfe's : quarts, » 245; " pints, 25s ' ' 6d; ,• Gilbey's, i'Silverstream, 18s; i Gilbey's dry gin, 14s; Distillers' Company. 14s: Burnett's ; Old Tom; 14s; Gilbey's. Old Tom. . 13s; -Lowndes ■ rum, : 30 0.p., 4s 9d in hhds.,:'. 5s in quarter-casks, , 5s 3d in * octaves f; Key.' 22s per case ; Gilbey's Governor-Gene- -■'■ ral rum, ,20s per case . -Champagne, d.p.: Pommery. quart 120s, pint 1255; Heidsieck. •- ,; quart,"-:':■ 1265. ~; pint. :'■■•.. 130s; G:■ Ayala;; ? quarl • 115s, pint 1205 ',-. Australian 'wines, 333.;:-/;; TIMBER.— Ordinary \: building •' timber. I i un- - dressed, 100 ft; first-class 15s 6d, medium 13s; •Jsecond-class • 10s; flitches, ; all heart, 14a- 6d; j flooring boards, dressed, p.t.g., first-class 17? 4 6d, ..medium 15a, second-class 12s; lining boards. >■■ p.t.g., beaded, ■or • V-jointed. - first- -" I class 17s, ;. medium ■: 143 • ■ 6d. second-class ; i lis 6d: -i' rusticated f; weatherboarding, . firstii'? class ; 17S : 6d, . medium 115s, :■ second-class 12s; -■'boat boards, 'j planed two ;" sides.:' Sin ft 16s, .Jin". 16s 6d. ; For widths over :,';-' : 12in. 'i 6d extra ■.-■- ■ per 'inch ;-~.per-v: IOOf t l ; is charged," : and for lengths over s 24ft extra iprices are charged. ■■:-. Logs, 4s te: 6s 3d, according to girth. TOBACCO- -Duty. 3s 6d. Baby Aromatic, 2s i 7d • Victory. is lid to 2s; ? Juno, black, all ?-shapes. Is 3d to Is 45d;. Ascot. 'If Derby, 5 ten cases Is 7d. single case Is Bd. box Is 9d; 1 Venus, Is v 6d;g* Golden Eagle., red v 2s 1'■' 4d •• - Yellow, a2a 13d ; M Welcome Nugget, 2s fi; 6d; black twist, 26 to. lb- Is: Golden Eagle. If 4oitins,3s:2os s tins, 3s ;3d Wills' Capstan,: Imf nil and medium, 4o« tins, 3s; ; zoz tins. 3s 3d; mild. 3d : more;;: Melrose. cigarette tobacco j 2oz packets,'d.p., 7s; Old Judge, ditto, 7s 9d. TEAS (in bond).-Indian Pekoes, ■Is 4d to :, Is s 6d; '-V Pekoe \i- Souchongs. £ fine, s* 10a to Is; finest. Is to Is 2d: Dooar. good medium Pekoe - Souchongs,-9d to lOd; ;.i Ceylon, iflneß'- Broken Oranges Pekoe are j scarce, medium 'to fine, la ,3d- to .Is 4d; •finest.'' Is 8d 'to la lpd; raedmm Broken Orange lid to 18 2d-. Broken % Souchong J and f Pekoe r Souchongs," 7d to, Bd. Fannings, good medium, say, 9d to lOd. Slllßiilliiiaial